AMEN

Church Responds to HRC Petition

Oct 12 2010 — Salt Lake City
News Release
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement through a spokesman following the delivery of a petition by the Human Rights Campaign.
My name is Michael Otterson. I am here representing the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to address the matter of the petition presented today by the Human Rights Campaign.
While we disagree with the Human Rights Campaign on many fundamentals, we also share some common ground. This past week we have all witnessed tragic deaths across the country as a result of bullying or intimidation of gay young men. We join our voice with others in unreserved condemnation of acts of cruelty or attempts to belittle or mock any group or individual that is different – whether those differences arise from race, religion, mental challenges, social status, sexual orientation or for any other reason. Such actions simply have no place in our society.
This Church has felt the bitter sting of persecution and marginalization early in our history, when we were too few in numbers to adequately protect ourselves and when society’s leaders often seemed disinclined to help. Our parents, young adults, teens and children should therefore, of all people, be especially sensitive to the vulnerable in society and be willing to speak out against bullying or intimidation whenever it occurs, including unkindness toward those who are attracted to others of the same sex. This is particularly so in our own Latter-day Saint congregations. Each Latter-day Saint family and individual should carefully consider whether their attitudes and actions toward others properly reflect Jesus Christ’s second great commandment - to love one another.
As a church, our doctrinal position is clear: any sexual activity outside of marriage is wrong, and we define marriage as between a man and a woman. However, that should never, ever be used as justification for unkindness. Jesus Christ, whom we follow, was clear in His condemnation of sexual immorality, but never cruel. His interest was always to lift the individual, never to tear down.
Further, while the Church is strongly on the record as opposing same-sex marriage, it has openly supported other rights for gays and lesbians such as protections in housing or employment.
The Church’s doctrine is based on love. We believe that our purpose in life is to learn, grow and develop, and that God’s unreserved love enables each of us to reach our potential. None of us is limited by our feelings or inclinations. Ultimately, we are free to act for ourselves.
The Church recognizes that those of its members who are attracted to others of the same sex experience deep emotional, social and physical feelings. The Church distinguishes between feelings or inclinations on the one hand and behavior on the other. It’s not a sin to have feelings, only in yielding to temptation.
There is no question that this is difficult, but Church leaders and members are available to help lift, support and encourage fellow members who wish to follow Church doctrine. Their struggle is our struggle. Those in the Church who are attracted to someone of the same sex but stay faithful to the Church’s teachings can be happy during this life and perform meaningful service in the Church. They can enjoy full fellowship with other Church members, including attending and serving in temples, and ultimately receive all the blessings afforded to those who live the commandments of God.
Obviously, some will disagree with us. We hope that any disagreement will be based on a full understanding of our position and not on distortion or selective interpretation. The Church will continue to speak out to ensure its position is accurately understood.
God’s universal fatherhood and love charges each of us with an innate and reverent acknowledgement of our shared human dignity. We are to love one another. We are to treat each other with respect as brothers and sisters and fellow children of God, no matter how much we may differ from one another.
We hope and firmly believe that within this community, and in others, kindness, persuasion and goodwill can prevail.

Hilarious

Came across this blog.  I think its hilarious and dead on for all you (and me) Mormon wife/mommy bloggers out there!
seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com

Summertime and the Living WAS Easy!

I have been a horrible blogger lately!  Oh well, I'll never be able to keep up with everything!  Steven and I had an awesome summer.  We worked and worked and worked, but it wasn't selling alarms!  This was our first summer together that Steven didn't do alarm sells and we loved every minute of it.  Yes, we missed out on seeing really good friends and living in a new place again, but it was so nice to stay home! 


We didn't go on our big Mexico vacation because of all of the violence, etc.  Instead, we stayed in awesome AZ and visited quite a few lakes in the process.  We spent almost a week at Apache Lake and had a blast.  Unfortunately, the camera didn't make it out alive.  It accidentally ended up in the cooler and lets just say water + our Sony touch screen camera don't mix well.  So, needless to say I don't have any pictures from that trip!  Here are some other lake pics including my work "lake day".  Yes, my job IS that awesome.  

  I LOVE THIS GUY!

My first time trying wake-surfing and I loooved it!

Steven's bro Wes.  He thinks he's all that and a bag of chips on the wakeboard!  He's really not he's just better and stronger than the rest of us... ;-)

We bought this new tube at good ol' Costco and it is AWESOME. It launches everyone so high.  (All of those pictures are on the old camera; bummer!)

These two are FINALLY married!  Congrats to Jacy and McKay! We love you!

I fell in love with DVR this summer!  Isn't it the greatest thing ever?  I finally relented and let Steven use his awesome discount at Best Buy to buy a new TV and he quickly got cable hooked up. It has been worth every penny. I love snuggling up and watching movies in bed!  Speaking of bed we also took the plunge and finally bought a new one!!  A new mattress, headboard, and footboard.  After one long night of getting hardly any sleep I nicely told Steven that I was not going to bed again until we had a new one. We had been sleeping on Steven's old bed which was a FULL!!  It was super hard and way too small.  We now have a not too hard, but not too soft QUEEN mattress.  Yes, it was worth every penny!

So, now that we have no money left (we also bought a new car!) we get to spend it ALL on school and gas to get to school.  Joy.

School.

Here's my guy after his first day of his LAST semester!  (of undergrad that is.)  He wasn't very thrilled about me taking a picture, but after I backed him into the corner he didn't really have a choice.

He is thrilled to be almost done and can't wait to finally have a degree he can do something with!  I'm so proud of him eventhough he beat me by a semester!  May, here I come!  Can't wait!

Wishing...

I'm wishing that I had some MOTIVATION.

I can't seem to find any.

I've had the 2 inch study book for the GRE for 2 months now.

Do you think I've cracked it open?

NO.

I only need 20 hours of hospital PT experience.

Do you think I've made a single phone call in order to get those 20 measly hours?

NO.

I made a bet with the silly boy at work that thinks he can loose weight by drinking red gatorade for breakfast & eating Panda Express for dinner that I'd loose more weight than him by Aug. 1st.

Do you think I've been to the gym in the past week?

NO.

Do you think I resisted the $20 Costco mammoth Father's Day Chocolate Cake on Sunday?

NO.

Do you think I resisted a piece on Monday?

NO.

Do you think I put the rest of it down the disposal today?

YES.

I guess thats a start, but I need a whole lot more motivation than what I got listening to that amazing cake being destroyed.

I've made a list of everything I need to get done this summer so I could cross things off as I've gotten them done.

I lost that.

I guess I've caught that summer bug that makes you think life should be lived on Easy Street.

I only have 2 months of summer left...

Help, PLEASE!

LOVE HER!

Caitlin graduated!  We are super excited for her, but not excited for her to leave...  She's decided to go up to Thatcher for school.  She'll have a blast there, but we will definitely miss her here!  Here are a few of my favorites from her senior pic session!

Congrats Caitlin!!

Lets go SUNS!

We were lucky enough to go to the first Suns vs. Spurs playoff game on Monday.  I HATE the Spurs!! I'm so so glad we beat them that night!  And, Wednesday night!  And, Friday night! Woohoo 3-0!  Hopefully we sweep 'em.

We had a blast Monday night.  Thanks Dad!

Tip off. Go Amar'e!

These were the 'Golden Grannys'.  Seriously hilarious dancing.

The arena was PACKED with ORANGE!

ehhh the hair looks a little dowdy...!  Must be from all that cheering.

SUNS WIN!

P. S. Suns just keep focusing on winning.  We don't care about your stupid political perspective that most of you know nothing about anyways.  Keep the 'Los Suns' jerseys at home. 

Two Years Down, Forever to Go!

Its hard to believe that it has been two years since this cRaZy, LOVE filled day!

I'm so happy I found such an amazing person who is PERFECT for me!

I'm so grateful that with the blessings of the temple, Steven and I have the opportunity to be together forever.  After two short years, forever still sounds pretty dang good!

This year for our anniversary we stayed in a resort up in Carefree.  We spent the day on Saturday shopping around in Scottsdale and ate dinner at PF Changs!  The resort was beautiful and were able to have the hot tub, pool, and fireplace all to ourselves later that night. 

 

We had an awesome relaxing weekend that was REALLY needed.  Thanks Steven, for the best 2 years ever!